₦airaland Forum

Three months after they first announced their split following 27 years of marriage, Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates are officially divorced.

The ex-couple’s dissolution was finalized by a judge Monday in King County, Washington, according to court records. TMZ earlier reported that neither party will receive spousal support and that all property is divided pursuant to a separation agreement.

To read more articles based on your personal financial goals, answer these 3 questions that will tailor your reading experience.

Washington laws stipulate a 90-day waiting period between when a divorce is filed and finalized.

Since the split was revealed on social media, there’s been intense focus on the future of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Warren Buffett, the only other trustee aside from the pair, stepped down, while the foundation announced it would add more members to the board. French Gates, 56, meanwhile, might exit her role in two years if she and Gates cannot work together.

The couple also committed an extra $15 billion to the organization. That money will go to the foundation’s endowment, which stood at roughly $50 billion before the announcement and has given away about as much over the past two decades.

Since the separation, more than $3 billion worth of shares held by Gates’s Cascade Investment has been transferred to French Gates’s name. That’s a fraction of their $146 billion fortune at the time of the announcement, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Washington is a community property state, which means anything accumulated during marriage is considered both partners’ equally. Gates and French Gates, and their respective teams of lawyers, drew up the separation contract, which the court has granted, and will likely stay private.

Bill Gates, 65, is now worth more than $150 billion, according to the index.

The National Judicial Institute (NJI) has appointed the Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), Justice Salisu Garba as the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute.

He takes over from Justice Rosaline Bozimo whose tenure ended on July 31, 2021.

Justice Garba, who hails from Katsina State, was appointed by the Board of Governors of the Institute headed by the Chief Judge of Nigeria(CJN), Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, at its meeting held on July 15, 2021.

He is due for retirement as the Chief Judge of the FCT on October 10, 2021, when he would have clocked the mandatory retirement age of 65 years.

Justice Garba took the oath of office on July 7, 2021, as the Chief Judge of the FCT.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Ahuraka Isah on Monday, explained that his appointment is for a period of three years.

Meanwhile, Justice Garba has voluntarily retired as the Chief Judge of the FCT to take up his new appointment.

Born on October 10, 1956, Justice Garba hails from Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State. He was called to bar in 1984 just as he completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1985.

Justice Garba, who went into legal practice for three years after NYSC programme, was appointed Magistrate in the FCT in 1989, served as the Chief Registrar of the FCT High Court until he was appointed a judge of the FCT High Court in 1998.

It would be recalled that Justice M. A. Ope-Agbe, who was the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute from April 2000 to April 2003 was appointed from the High Court Bench, just as the late Justice O. Olatawura and Justice A. O. Obaseki came from the Supreme Court to head the Institute from 1991 to 1995 and from 1995 to March 2000 respectively.

@henryconyekuru is a member of the Olympiacos family.

#Olympiacos #Transfer #Welcome #HenryOnyekuru #WelcomeOnyekuru #WeKeepOnDreaming

The versatile winger spent the second half of last season on loan at Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray.

The Nigeria international spent five years at Aspire Academy before linking up with Belgian Pro League outfit KAS Eupen in 2015.

His 30 goals in 60 games with the Belgians attracted several clubs with Everton acquiring their rights in 2017.

The player spent the next two seasons on loan at Anderlecht and Galatasaray.

As he does not secure a work permit in England, Onyekuru moves to Monaco, where he plays for half a season. This was followed by two more loans in Galatasaray, with which he celebrated the conquest of a championship and a Cup.

President Muhammadu Buhari appears to have become a special ambassador to Indian social media platform Indian App as his image was featured on Indian App's social media advert with the app promising to provide “exclusive updates from him only on Indian App!”

The app Indian App's, similar to Twitter, emerged onto the Nigerian market in June. This was soon after the Nigerian government banned Twitter and its operations within the country.

Twitter was banned two days after the platform removed a tweet by President Muhammadu Buhari that threatened to punish regional secessionists in the South-East region of the country.

Indian App's popularity subsequently surged as official federal government social media platforms stopped tweeting and migrated to Koo.

Top government functionaries, presidential aides, agencies, and other pro-government individuals also took to Koo.

The Federal Government stated that all social media platforms operating in Nigeria must be registered as a business entity locally henceforth. The same condition was laid down as one of the preconditions for the lifting of the ban on Twitter.

The Indian microblogging site has since moved in to cash in on the development, preparing to establish a physical presence in Nigeria while connecting with top influencers.

Indian App co-founder Aprameya Radhakrishna hinted from his Twitter handle:

“@kooindia is available in Nigeria. We’re thinking of enabling the local languages there too. What say?”

Within days of the Twitter ban, Koo was available on Apple and Google’s app stores and job openings had been posted on LinkedIn searching for local language speakers.

Indian App's entry into Nigeria is similar to the circumstances around its introduction to its home market.
https://gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot_20210801-173448_Gmail-768x1098.jpg
After the Indian App launched, thousands of farmers started protesting three controversial agricultural laws, many people took to Twitter to complain. The Indian government demanded that Twitter suspend accounts of some media houses and opposition, insisting that they were spreading misinformation.

Indian App positioned itself as a government-friendly alternative to Twitter, as the social media platform’s vocal support for freedom of expression was not accepted by the Prime Minister Modi-led government. This led to it becoming a platform for promoting hate and anti-Muslim rhetoric.

In Nigeria, the Buhari-led administration has been vocal about their desire to impose control over social media, which has been widely used by activists and opposition groups to challenge government narratives.

Nigeria’s ministry of information and culture has imposed increasingly stringent regulations under the guise of tackling “misinformation.”

The latest advertorial of Mr Buhari as the face of Koo is Nigeria received an excoriation from civil society organisation, Center for Democracy and Development, CDD.

“Its a shame the #TwitterBan has persisted till now, despite the economic disaster it has proven to be for youths who depend on #twitter for their livelihoods.

For obvious reasons, we find this ad by #koo, another microblogging platform, both immoral and distasteful.

KeepitOn,” CDD tweeted on Sunday.

PRESS STATEMENT

The Media Office of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki would like to confirm that this afternoon, on his own volition, Dr. Saraki visited the office of the EFCC to clarify any issue that the commission may have wanted to raise with him.

It will be recalled that following the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the Fundamental Human Rights case filed by Dr. Saraki during the period of the former Chairman of the EFCC which precluded the commission from investigating him until the matter is dispensed with, the commission at the last hearing on July 14, 2021, pleaded with the judge that the order was preventing them from doing their job.

Following this complaint, Dr. Saraki, as a responsible citizen, on his own volition approached the commission that at the earliest convenient date, he was willing to visit the commission’s office and clarify all issues they might want to raise with him.

He, therefore, visited the commission’s office this afternoon and answered some questions. He is back home. He was not arrested. Dr. Saraki also assured the commission that he has nothing to hide and will always make himself available to clear all issues that may require his attention.

Signed:

Yusuph Olaniyonu
Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office

President @MBuhari has frequently opted for subjective loyalties over real political will on national security and fighting corruption.The US @FBI request for the extradition of accused police chief Abba Kyari in the Hushpuppi case will put him and Nigeria in the global spotlight.

It’s one thing to go to great lengths in seeking to extradite Sunday Igboho from Benin Republic and the apparent extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from God-knows-where. It’s another to respect international law in black and white when it comes to certain Nigerians.

Nigeria and the United States have an extradition treaty and it has been used in a number of cases. Is this a bone in the throat? What leadership calls for is obvious, President Buhari should respect laws and follow due process. We are watching.

#Kyari
#Hushpuppi
#ChibuzorVincent
#RuleOfLaw

The remains of Micheal Usifo Ataga, slain CEO of Super TV, have been interred.

Ataga was buried at the Ebony Vaults in Ikoyi, Lagos State, on Friday afternoon.

Family members and friends paid tribute to the deceased whose corpse was found at an apartment in Lekki a few days to his 50th birthday.

Detectives later arrested a 21-year-old undergraduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Chidinma Ojukwu in connection with his death.

The suspect is still in custody while the police have announced the arrest of more suspects but did not disclose their identities.

Officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation have met with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba to demand the arrest and extradition of Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari to the United States, SaharaReporters learnt.

According to a top source, four FBI agents met with the IGP on Thursday asking that Nigeria's celebrated cop, Kyari be taken to the United States for interrogation over his role in the activities of suspected serial internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, more commonly known as Hushpuppi.

The source stated that the agents have returned on Friday (today) to ensure their demands are met, citing the urgency of the case.

He said, "FBI agents met with the IGP yesterday (Thursday) to demand Abba Kyari's arrest and extradition to the United States citing the urgency of the case. Four FBI agents returned to the IG’s office this morning, they are there asking the IGP to release Kyari for interrogation."

Meanwhile, as of Thursday night, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, had ordered an internal review of the receipt of allegations and indictment processes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation against Kyari.

This was contained in a statement issued by the force's spokesperson, Frank Mba, on its Facebook page on Thursday night.

The force also stated that it is committed to the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of its professional relationship with the FBI and other international partners.

It assured Nigerians to further communicate developments on the case to members of the public.

The statement read, "Sequel to the receipt of allegations and indictment processes from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against one of the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Abba Kyari, the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba psc (+), NPM, fdc has ordered an internal review of the allegations.

"The Nigeria Police Force reaffirms its commitment to the pursuit of justice and the strengthening of its professional relationship with the FBI and other international partners.

"Further developments on this case will be communicated to members of the public accordingly."

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the United States' Court had issued a warrant of arrest for Kyari, over his role in Hushpuppi’s multi-million naira fraud probe.

Otis Wright of the United States District Court for the Central District of California ordered the Federal Bureau of Investigation to track down Kyari and produce him in the United States for his role in a multi-million dollar fraud.

Abbas was arrested in Dubai last June and he pleaded guilty to fraud in the U.S. this week.

The FBI said Abbas and Kyari have been friends and were both involved in a conspiracy to launder money.

American prosecutors first sought a court warrant to arrest Kyari on February 12, 2021.

Another warrant was requested on April 29, 2021.

Judge Wright’s permission for the FBI to arrest Mr Kyari and hold him in U.S. custody was unsealed on July 26.

Hushpuppi had narrated how he bribed Kyari to have one of his rivals arrested and jailed in Nigeria following a dispute over a $1.1 million dupe of a Qatari businessperson.

Abbas had asked Kyari to arrest and jail a fellow fraudster Kelly Chibuzor Vincent after both were locked in a dispute presumably over how to share the $1.1 million loot received from the Qatari businessperson.

Abbas had pleaded guilty to a multi-million fraud earlier this month and faces up to 20 years in jail.

He will be sentenced in the coming weeks and will forfeit some of his assets and his rights to appeal while also paying restitution to victims of his years-long fraud.

Kyari in a statement on Facebook has, however, dismissed the allegations of bribe.

EFCC Arrests 55 Internet Fraud Suspects in Enugu, Ebonyi.

Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC have arrested 55 suspected internet fraudsters in separate operations in Enugu and Ebonyi States. Eighteen of the suspects were arrested today July 29, 2021, at Agbani Road and Thinkers Corner areas of Enugu, Enugu State following intelligence on their alleged involvement in internet fraud.

The suspects are: John Kennedy, Onochie John Paul, Ilojeme Chiagozie, Ilechukwu Chidiebeube, Ike Ebubechukwu Emmanuel H., Otega Pafe Philip, Uzochukwu Uche Frank and Ezinwa Witness Chimere. Others are Obike William Nwabufo, Ikeja Eyerinsu, Chidindu Victory, Onwuagbaizu Paul, Tomizine Alamco, Great Oluwagbemiga, Kanu Dennis Ifeanyichukwu, Ebere Malachy, James Collins Ewenike and Ilojeme Chiemela.

Some of the items recovered from them include laptops and several mobile phones.

The remaining 37 suspects were apprehended on Wednesday July 28, 2021 at Hausa Quarters, Nkaliki, Aboboriga,Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.

The suspects are: Igwe Chukwudi, Ozoemena Newman, Obinna William, Eze Godwin, George Ezenwa, Onyebuchi Ebuka, Ezediegwu Innocent, Nzubechukwu Obineze, Igwe Ikenna, Ibrahim Falada, Ezra Excel, Chinedu Agu, Oscar Sogidu, Uchenna Onyenweaku, Nwoka Darlington, Ejike Prince, Anuli Obinna, Nwazunkwu Collins and Mba Rocks, Patrick Junior.

Others are Amefula Kennedy, Ebuka Okoh, Igboke Chinonso, Ijezie Chibuike, Anthony Delight, Joseph Ahuighnwa, Innocent Chukwuebuka, Chima Ndubuisi, Benjamin Kelechi, Precious Kalu, Anthony Samuel, Christian Valentine, Chukwudi Agbom, Ekebudu Nwabueze, Okoye Arinze, Igwebuike Emeka and Chiemelie Franklin.

Items recovered from the suspects include four vehicles : Lexus RX 350 with registration Number KUJ -552- BG, Lexus IS250 registered with Number EBJ - 762 -AAA, Mercedes Benz ML350 4matic with registration Number KUJ -393 - BQ and Mercedes Benz E350 marked YAB – 133 -BL, several phones and laptops.

The suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) will set up a panel to probe Abba Kyari, one of its high-profile officers, over his alleged relationship with Ramon Abbas, the self-confessed international fraudster, TheCable understands.

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has already secured a court order for Kyari’s arrest following his indictment in the confessional statements made by the man better known as Hushpuppi.

TheCable understands that FBI has contacted Nigeria police over the warrant of arrest, but there is yet no official confirmation and the details are still sketchy.

An international warrant of arrest can be executed through the INTERPOL but there still has to be a judicial pronouncement before Nigeria can hand over Kyari to the FBI for trial in the US.

The police have been silent on the Kyari twist to the Hushpuppi saga.

But a senior officer who spoke with TheCable said the police hierarchy would first take an “in-house action” before any extradition process can be discussed.

“The police headquarters will set up a high-powered panel to probe the allegations against him before we decide on what to do next,” the officer informed TheCable without giving further details.

Hushpuppi was arrested in the UAE in June 2020 alongside 11 of his associates over allegations bordering on hacking, impersonation, scamming, banking fraud, and identity theft.

He had earlier pleaded guilty to the money laundering charges against him, putting him at the risk of 20 years imprisonment.

In a recent court document, the social media celebrity had alleged that he bribed Kyari to arrest a co-fraudster.

The crack investigator, however, dismissed Hushpuppi’s claim, saying he did not receive any money from the socialite as alleged.

Amid the ensuing saga, additional court documents seen by TheCable showed that the US district court in California had ordered the FBI to arrest Kyari.

The extradition of Hushpuppi to the US had followed after the UAE police detailed his arrest in a special operation dubbed ‘Fox Hunt 2’ where he was accused of defrauding 1.9 million victims to the tune of N168 billion.

The embattled Instagram celebrity was thereafter arraigned and detained at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Chicago ahead of his trial.

SYSTEM COLLAPSE

Dear Esteemed customers,

Please be informed that we lost supply this morning from our sources of power supply at Awada - New Haven and Egbu Transmission Stations, due to a total system collapse.

This has informed the present power outage being experienced by our customers across our network.

Work is on-going by the TCN engineers to identify the fault, clear it and restore supply accordingly and we are on standby to restore our feeders once this is concluded.

Please bear with us.

Thank you.

Dear Esteemed Customers,

We regret to inform you that the power outage being experienced in our franchise states is due to System Collapse of the National Grid which occurred at about 12:22 pm.

Power supply shall be restored as soon as the National Grid is powered back.

Our sincere apologies for any inconvenience.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT

Dear Esteemed Customers,
Following a grid system outage that occurred at about 12:26 pm today, we have been unable to service our customers in Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa State as well as a significant part of the Federal Capital Territory.

At the moment, only 20MW has been allocated to AEDC
as against the over 400MW that have been receiving in
recent times.

We urge our customers to be patient and promise that
the power supply will be restored to our franchise area as
soon as there is a significant improvement in our
allocation.

Dear valued customer, we regret to inform you of a system collapse on the National Grid that’s causing outages across our network.

We are working with our TCN partners to restore supply as soon as possible.

Please bear with us.

#PowerUpdate #EkoElectricity #EmpoweringQualityOfLives

Dear Esteemed Customer,

The current power outage is due to a nationwide system collapse that occurred at about 12:26hrs.

Power supply will be restored gradually to various parts of the network as soon as the Grid is stabilized.

Kindly bear with us.

#IEServe
#CustomerFirst

The Kaduna State Government has suspended the resumption of schools across local governments of the state until further notice.

Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting on Monday, Governor Nasir El-Rufai explained that the government took the decision due to the ongoing aggressive military operation against bandits in most parts of the state.

He informed the meeting attended by members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), as well as professional and community-based associations that the operation was aimed at flushing the bandits out from their hideouts.

Governor El-Rufai added that the government was committed to protecting vulnerable children from being attacked by fleeing bandits who were already feeling the superior firepower of the military.

He revealed that the military has deployed more troops to the state for the operation and warned the residents to be vigilant and mindful of unknown faces in their midst, saying fleeing bandits might infiltrate their communities.

PRESS STATEMENT

The attention of the Kaduna State Ministry of Education has been drawn to a fake news report in circulation alleging that the State government has suspended the resumption of schools across the state until further notice.

The purported report attributed to the Governor, Malam Nasir E-Rufai further declared that he stated it while addressing a stakeholders' meeting on Monday, due to the ongoing aggressive military operation against bandits in most parts of the state.

The Ministry of Education wishes to inform the public that the information is false and lack any basis as the Governor was neither in a meeting with stakeholders nor made any disclosure of such nature to anyone.

It would be recalled that the Ministry had earlier stated in a release on the 15th of July, 2021 that schools will be closed for three (3) weeks, after the closure for the 2nd term holiday beginning from the 16 of July 2021, to enable the state review the 2020/2021
Academic Calendar so that normal school activities can continue afterward.

The State's stance on that has not changed.

In view of the above, the Ministry of Education is urging the public to disregard the fake news report and is warning those behind this heinous act of misinforming the public to desist from it or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.

The terrorist group Boko Haram/ISWAP has released photos of the two soldiers and a Yobe Liaison Officer they kidnapped on Saturday along the Damaturu-Maiduguri highway.

The abductees’ identity cards were also released by the militants.

Two of the ID cards on exhibit belong to Mai Lalle, one belongs to Mustapha, and the other belongs to Nigerian Army Lpcl Oyediran Adedotun.

The ID card of the fourth abductee was not sighted from the list of the cards provided by the insurgents.

The Nation reports all the four victims were abducted on Saturday along Maiduguri/Damaturu highway.

While Mai Lalle and Mustapaha were travelling to Maiduguri, the two Army personnel were however traveling to Kano on a pass permit.

The Nation gathered though the pictures of the victims have been released, no contact has been made with the families.

The Police in Benin Republic have dispersed journalists and hundreds of Yoruba Nation activists from the premises of the Cour De’appal De Cotonou on Monday.

The officers drove into the venue of the hearing of the case against Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, in about seven trucks.

They chased away the crowd, who were waiting on the court’s verdict.

The Beninise court is still in session as of the time of filing this report.

Igboho’s lawyers and his wife, Ropo, were allowed inside the courtroom.

The court is currently investigating the allegations brought against Igboho by the Federal Government of Nigeria which claimed, amongst other things, that the activist is a gun runner.

The court is also expected to rule on the extradition or otherwise of Igboho.

Igboho and his wife were arrested at the Cadjèhoun Airport in Cotonou around 8pm on July 19, 2021, while they tried to catch a flight to Germany.

Police disperse IPOB supporters who showed up at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The extradition hearing involving #YorubaNation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho and the Nigerian State is expected to take place today at The Cour De’appal De Cotonou, Benin Republic.

Igboho and his wife, Ropo were on Monday, July 19, arrested at the Cardinal Bernardin International Airport in Cotonou, while trying to fly from the country to Germany.

Ropo, was on Thursday, released, unconditionally as the Court found no charges preferred against her.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had on July 1 raided the residence of the activist in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Igboho had planned a ”Yoruba Nation Rally” in Lagos two days before the raid.

The DSS raided the residence, killing two people and arresting 12 aides but Igboho escaped.

The agency alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons, and subsequently declared him wanted.

The Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has queried the emir of Misau, Ahmed Sulaiman, for allegedly organizing what was seen as a politically themed conference in his domain.

The conference, which was considered by the associates of the governor as “anti-PDP conference”, was held on July 2 in Misau, with Emirs of Keffi and Nasarawa, Shehu Yamusa and Ibrahim Jibrin respectively, in attendance.

Also in their company was a former governor of Nasarawa State and a serving APC senator, Abdullahi Adamu.

Mr Sulaiman was appointed emir of Misau on August 27, 2015, following the death of the 10th Emir of Misau, Muhammadu Manga III, on August 17, 2015.

He was previously a Secretary to the State Government and Head of Service (1996 to 1999), after which he retired from the service. On July 3, 2015, he was appointed Secretary to the State Government for the second time, a position he held until his appointment as the 11th Emir of Misau by then APC-led administration of Mohammed Abubakar.

The Query

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the embattled emir had written to the state government, notifying the governor about his plan to organize a conference on the role of traditional institutions in governance about a month ago.

Sources said the state government did not reply to the monarch’s letter.

“The emir thought the refusal of the state government to reply to the letter was a consent, so he went ahead to organize the conference, with some emirs in attendance,” a source familiar with the development told DAILY NIGERIAN.

“During the conference, some of the speakers criticized the PDP for undermining the role of traditional institutions and subverting democracy in the country. The governor saw this as an affront to the PDP-led administration in the state.”

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the governor was also furious that the visiting monarchs did not visit him at the Government House before proceeding to Misau for the conference.

“But for the prompt intervention of some notable personalities, the emir would have been dethroned on Monday,” another source told our reporter.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that on Monday a delegation of lobbyists had met the governor to extend the emir’s apology and beg him not to dethrone the monarch.

When contacted for comment on the matter, spokesman for the governor, Mukhtar Gidado, said he was not briefed on the matter.

The emir’s past ‘misdeeds’

In July last year, Governor Bala Mohammed suspended the emir over a clash between farmers and herders.

The deadly clash in Zadawa community of Misau led to the death of nine people, with many sustaining injuries.

The governor announced the suspension of the emir while setting up a committee to investigate the cause of the clash.

The district head of the area as well as ward heads were also suspended by the governor. Also suspended was the caretaker chairman of the LGA and other officials after accusing them of negligence.

Four months after the suspension, the state government reinstated the emir after tendering an apology to the governor.

An administrative panel that investigated the clashes indicted the monarch for dereliction of duty, which fuelled and escalated the fatal crisis in his domain.

The panel recommended that the emir be warned, made to tender a written apology and be recalled back to the throne.

The Philippines became the world's first country Friday to approve the commercial production of genetically modified "golden rice" that experts hope will combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world.

A biosafety permit issued by government regulators paves the way for the rice -- enriched with the vitamin A precursor beta-carotene to make it more nutritional -- to be grown by farmers across the country, its developers said.

"It's a really significant step for our project because it means that we are past this regulatory phase and golden rice will be declared as safe as ordinary rice," Russell Reinke of the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) told AFP ahead of the announcement.

The next step was to "take our few kilos of seed and multiply it... so it can be made more widely available", he said.

IRRI has spent two decades working with the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute to develop golden rice -- named for its bright yellow hue.

It is the first genetically modified rice approved for commercial propagation in South and Southeast Asia, officials said Friday.

Golden rice has faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants. At least one test field in the Philippines was attacked by activists.

Despite passing the final regulatory hurdle, the rice is still a way off appearing in food bowls.

"Limited quantities" of seed could start to be distributed to Filipino farmers in selected provinces next year, Reinke said.

Ordinary rice, a staple for hundreds of millions of people particularly in Asia, produces beta-carotene in the plant, but it is not found in the grain.

"The only change that we've made is to produce beta-carotene in the grain," Reinke said.

"The farmers will be able to grow them in exactly the same way as ordinary varieties... it doesn't need additional fertiliser or changes in management and it carries with it the benefit of improved nutrition."

Vitamin A is essential for normal growth and development, the proper functioning of the immune system, and vision.

World Health Organization data show vitamin A deficiency causes up to 500,000 cases of childhood blindness every year, with half of those dying within 12 months of losing their sight.

Nearly 17 percent of children under the age of five in the Philippines are deficient in vitamin A, according to IRRI.

"We've always said we will provide 30-50 percent of that estimated average requirement (of vitamin A), and when you add that to what is existing in the diet you push up a whole cohort of the population from insufficiency to sufficiency," Reinke said.

Golden rice was analysed by food safety regulators in Australia, the United States and Canada and was given the thumbs up, he said, but it has not been approved in these countries for commercial production.

It is also being reviewed by regulators in Bangladesh.

Kudakwashe Regimond Tagwirei for profiting from misappropriation of property when his company, Sakunda Holdings, redeemed Government of Zimbabwe Treasury Bills at up to ten times their official value. His actions accelerated the deflation of Zimbabwe’s currency, increasing the price of essentials, such as food, for Zimbabwean citizens.

Alex Nain Saab Morán and Alvaro Enrique Pulido Vargas engaged in serious corruption in Venezuela through their participation in two of Venezuela’s public programmes: the ‘Local Committees for Supply and Production’ (CLAP) and the Great Housing Scheme (GMV). In each case, contracts were improperly granted for the benefit of an official and/or for another person including Saab and Pulido themselves. In the CLAP programme, basic foodstuffs were provided at highly inflated prices. For GMV, Global Construction Fund only delivered a small proportion of the products they had agreed to deliver, misappropriating the remainder of the funds

Nawfal Hammadi Al-Sultan has been involved in serious corruption in his role as Governor of Nineveh province, Iraq, where he misappropriated public funds intended for reconstruction efforts and to provide support for civilians, and improperly awarded contracts and other state property. Al-Sultan is currently serving a combined five-year prison sentence in Iraq for corruption offences, including wasting five billion Iraqi dinars (approximately £2.5 million) through fictitious public works.

Teodoro Obiang Mangue, Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, and son of the current President, for his involvement in the misappropriation of state funds into his own personal bank accounts, corrupt contracting arrangements and soliciting bribes, to fund a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with his official salary as a Government Minister.

In a country where, according to UNICEF, a third of the population does not have access to even basic sanitation, investigations and media reports show that Obiang has spent over $500 million since he was appointed a government minister in 1998. This includes buying a $100 million mansion in Paris and others around the world, a $38 million private jet, a luxury yacht, dozens of luxury vehicles including Ferraris, Bentleys and Aston Martins and most notoriously, a collection of Michael Jackson memorabilia including a $275,000 crystal-covered glove that Jackson wore on his ‘Bad’ tour.

The first batch of A-29 Super Tucano aircraft has arrived in Kano, on Thursday 22 July 2021 at about 12.34 pm.

Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information confirmed the arrival of the fighter aircraft in a statement.

“On hand to receive the aircraft were the Hon. Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (Rtd), Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao”, he said.

Efforts by President Muhammadu Buhari government to extradite Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho, to Nigeria from Benin Republic have hit the rocks.

Authorities in the neighboring West African nation have insisted on a fair trial for Igboho before yielding to the demand, SaharaReporters has gathered.

The Beninoise government said it won't handle a request for extradition without first trying him for the local offense he was arrested for, sources told SaharaReporters Thursday morning.

SaharaReporters had reported how Igboho was arrested on Monday night in Cadjèhoun Airport, Cotonou with a "fake" Beninese passport while trying to flee to Germany.

He is expected to be arraigned for immigration-related offenses in Benin Republic later today after a spirited move by the Buhari government to bring him back to Nigeria.

The source told SaharaReporters that the Yoruba nation activist had hired a Beninois defense attorney, Rafael Huvehnou. Huvehnou is currently an attorney to the President of the Benin Republic.

Igboho may be granted bail today.

"We went to court at Cotonou today but they didn't bring Igboho to court, so we called his lawyer. He was in safe hands at Cotonou Criminal Brigade where he was detained. They will take him to court today.

"Igboho has given a statement to the police. He was traveling with a Beninoise passport adjudged to be fake," the source privy to the discussions told SaharaReporters.

The Nigerian government, through its Ambassador to Benin Republic, Tukur Buratai, is bent on extraditing Igboho to Nigeria.

It was learned that the former Chief of Army Staff wrote two letters to the government of the West African country and insisted on the arrest and extradition of Igboho.

Buratai had in the letters described the activist as a terrorist and murderer.

“Nigeria had written two letters to the West African state, describing Igboho as a terrorist and murderer. The first letter was written on July 7th. A second letter describing his bodily features was passed on to the Benin Republic yesterday,” a security source told SaharaReporters.

The Department of State Services (DSS) had on July 1 raided the residence of Igboho in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Igboho had planned a ”Yoruba nation Rally” in Lagos two days before the raid.

The DSS raided the residence, killed two people, and arrested 12 aides but Igboho escaped.

The agency alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons, and subsequently declared him wanted. The agitator has been on the run since the raid.

Some of you on iOS may see different options to up or down vote on replies. We're testing this to understand the types of replies you find relevant in a convo, so we can work on ways to show more of them.

Your downvotes aren’t public, while your upvotes will be shown as likes.

Sunday Adeyemo, a youth leader better known as Sunday Igboho, has not been released from custody in Benin Republic.

Wale Adeniran, one of the conveners of Ilana Omo Oodua International, a Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, confirmed this on Tuesday evening.

Igboho was said to have been arrested by security operatives in Benin Republic on Monday, while on his way to Germany, and that there were plans to repatriate him to Nigeria.

But there were reports on Tuesday afternoon that he had been released from custody.

Adeniran, who spoke during a Zoom meeting with some other members of the Ilana Omo Oodua group on Tuesday, said efforts were ongoing to ensure the youth leader’s release.

Also speaking with TheCable on Tuesday evening, Jare Ajayi, national publicity secretary of Afenifere, a Yoruba socio-cultural group, said there is no confirmation that Igboho has been released from police custody in Benin Republic.

Unconfirmed reports had further indicated that the Benin Republic government was not cooperating with Nigeria on repatriation proceedings, and had released Igboho.

But Ajayi, in a conversation with TheCable, said Igboho is still in custody.

“There is no confirmation that Igboho has been released from custody,” he said.

Ajayi also said Afenifere is still studying the situation before it will make a statement on details of Igboho’s arrest.

“Security agencies appear to be more active in hunting those who are peacefully agitating for the rights and better deals for their people than they appear to be in dealing with bandits and terrorists who have deprived thousands of innocent Nigerians of their lives and properties,” the Afenifere spokesman said.

“If half of the energy deployed to apprehend Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Igboho had been deployed to the menace of terrorists and bandits who kill, rape, rob and kidnap people, we would not have been in the unfortunate security mess that we are presently.

“It is hoped that government will direct more attention to addressing issues that gave birth to ethnic agitations. The earlier this is done, the better.”

As soon as the BBC heard rumours circulating on the internet that Chief Sunday Igboho had been released in Cotonou, Benin Republic, the BBC contacted Sunday Igboho's lawyer.

Lawyer Yomi Aliu, representing Chief Sunday Igboho, told BBC Yoruba that the release report was far from the truth.

Lawyer Yomi Aliu said the Benin Republic government had not yet released Sunday Igboho.

For the sake of those inquiring, Sunday Igboho hasn’t been released from detention according to his attorneys. Thank you! #RevolutionNow #BuhariMustGo

With Yusuf Buhari, just named Talban Daura and Musa Daura, the Dan Madamin Daura.

#EidMubarak

Kanye West held an album listening party in Las Vegas and played a track that seemed to include comments about his marriage to Kim Kardashian.

The rapper, 44, reportedly broke down in tears at the party and his new song Welcome to my Life is said to include lyrics that take aim at his troubled personal life.

Lyrics seemingly touch upon his current divorce from the 40-year-old reality star, his Twitter meltdowns and his failed bid for the US Presidency, according to The Sun.

He also likens his marital home in Calabasas, LA, with the Kardashian sister to being like "jail".

On the tune, he raps: "Tell the assassins I escaped from Calabasas."

A source at the Vegas party told the publication: "It’s a very deep, sad song about Kanye, with him reflecting on his marriage with Kim.

"He talks about the kids and mentions her taking everything. After he played this song he paused for like, two minutes, and cried. It was really sombre."

The party was held for the upcoming release of the Gold Digger's 10th album, which is titled Donda after his late mother.

It will be Kanye's first album since splitting from wife Kim in February.

Kim cited "irreconcilable differences" as her reason for filing for a divorce, after the pair got married in 2014.

The duo share four children together - North, 7, Saint, 5, Chicago, 3, and Psalm, 2.

Kanye is currently reportedly dating model Irina Shayk, despite rumours the pair had split.

The model was supposedly left "furious" with claims the pair had broke up.